SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

Evening Star, Issue 19663, 16 September 1927, Page 2

SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE

QUESTIONS OF THE HOUR The subject of Dr Pettit’s fourth lecture, delivered at Knox Church last evening, was ‘ Christianity and Modern Thought.’ In reviewing the previous lectures of the scries on 1 Questions of the Hour,’ Dr Pettit pointed out that, in the first place, they had seen that the facts of science were in perfect accord with the statements of the word of God. No Christian need fear to face facts. Truth could never bo destroyed, and God never contradicted Himself. In the second place, they had seen there was not a vestige of scientific evidence of the transmutation of species. Evolutionary hypothesis had no base of scientific fact. Nest, it had beep demonstrated that all the pretentious claims of the higher criticism were likewise based on theories which invariably broke down whenever they were brought face to face with the facts of arch ecology. Tho testimony of the Son of God that tho Scriptures “ cannot bo broken ” was tho impregnable rock upon which every critical theory split. The speaker pointed out that many Christian people, especially the '-young people in the centres of higher learning, were being captivated by ■ the glamor of Modernism without realising its ultimate issues. The reason why so many were being swept off their feet was because of the almost universal ignorance of the Scriptures, which was one of the most lamentable features of this generation. After quoting Principal Samuel Chadwick, Dr Pettit explained that Christianity was the whole body of revealed truth contained in tho Bible, having its centre in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The foundation truth_ of Christianity was the plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus Christ said: “ The Scriptures cannot be broken. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Word shall not pass away.” From first to last the writers claimed to be delivering a divine message. “ Holy men of God spoke as they wore moved by the Holy Ghost,” “Which things also we speak, not in tho words which man’s wisdom toachoth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.” “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” On this foundation was established every great truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ—His Deity, His virgin birth. His substitutionary atonement, His bodily resurrection, and the personal return. The most solemn claim to be a final, a complete, a perfect revelation of God to man, was made in the closing passage of the Word of God. “ For 1 testify unto every man that hcareth tho words of the prophecy of this book. If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him tho plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away His part out of the book of life, and out of the Holy City, and from the things which were written in this book.” Modernism mocked at this solemn judgment. It added to the immutable Word the speculations of evolutionary philosophy, and took from it one by one every foundation truth. It was the religion of tho natural man. It exalted human reason to the seat of final authority in religion. It began with a fallible Christ, and whoa it was logical it ended in Agnosticism. It was Satan’s masterstroke. Many of those who wore being deceived by these false claims did not realise the end of the road on which they were setting out. In a recent editorial in ‘The Modern Churchman,’ tho organ of the learned and influential body of Modernists in the Church of England, the following statement was published Modernism in the person of F. D. Maurice began by protesting against the terrible doctrine of everlasting torment; in Colinso it protested' against the assertion of the scientific accuracy of Genesis; it denied the doctrine of original sin as due to Adam’s transgression; it denied in the light of Biblical criticism the historicity of many Old Testament and New Testament narratives. It denied the resurrection of tho flesh. _lt domed tho plenary character of Christ’s sufferings, and that He offered on the Cross a propitiation or satisfaction to God the Father, it denied our Lord’s omniscience and omnipotence while subject to tho conditions of His incarnate life. It denied His virgin birth and physical resurrection and ascension. It denied Biblical infallibilty. To-day traditional Christianity, with its schemes of salvation, lies shattered.” Here was Modernism unmasked.